pat056

Just got a '99 996 and have a oil ??

My Porsche doctor prescribed 0W40 for this car. I have a 964 race car and run Mobile 15W50. This is also recommended in the 996 manual for the temperature conditions it's expected to see. I've heard comments on the 997 that recommends the 0W40. Does this hold true for the 996 also or is my "tried and true" 15W50 just as good? This car will not be a DE car. Just on the highway.
Also, what do you guys recommend to take the oil canister off without damaging it...anything I can buy at NAPA or Advance?

1999Porsche911

Stick with the 15W50. Porscje DOES NOT recommend ANY oil. They simply list the oils as "approved" after an oil company has spend lot of money to get on the list. 0W40 is only one of dozens of oils on this list. Many companies are opting out of the "pay to be approved" game in recent years. Stick with what works......not what leaks, burns and does not protect.

bet

Pat056,

Welcome. If you are a new owner I would suggest that you do a search on this forum for oil and/or 0w40 or 15w50. To say this is a hotly debated topic is an understatement. There are many passionately contested threads on what the correct and/or appropriate oil is. I am sure someone will post the current oils approved by Porsche. Some individuals have some very strong thoughts that 15w50 is correct (1999Porsche911 is in this camp) while others make some very compelling arguments that 0w40 is the proper weight. You will need to make your own decision on what you want to use.

If you want to be 2 for 2 on hot topics ask about using non N spec tires next

As for the removal of the canister. Porsche makes a huge socket that goes on it to remove it for about $10 (which is what I have always used) others have reported using various oil "filter" wrenches to remove it. It is a very thick composite material that is not materially damaged easily.

J-RAD

Wrong, wrong, and wrong!

I just got done posting this in another thread. 0W-40 is approved and recommended by Porsche, alternatively, they may also use 5W-40 (in both cases, fully synthetic, no blends). They didn't just make this up. If you use a heavier weight oil, such as 15W-50, you actually risk damaging the engine. This comes not only from Porsche but was also supported by my mechanic - a Porsche expert and the chief mechanic for a Ruf race team.

Tippy

This shall be fun to follow

J-RAD

Nah. At least not from my standpoint. I've said my $.02 and I'm done.

1999Porsche911

There is no official recommendation of any oil from Porsche. They do not even approve 5W30. All those engines that came from the factory with 15W50 have blown up.

Keep posting and I'll keep pointing out your incorrect statements.

Stop relying on conscensus as it is most always wrong. The world used to be flat too. The 1970's was the beginning of the next ice age. Global warming will destroy all humans in the next decade. The dow will hit 20,000 in 2001. All these things, plus more are the consensus. Are they correct? I mean, the greatest minds in the world say so, so you should believe them, shouldn't you?

Doug Donsbach

Advance sells the AmPro 74/76mm oil filter socket.

pat056

Note to J-RAD... So the 0-W40 is the oil of choice for the 996 just like the 997?
Also, should my 964 race car be running 0-W40 or is this just for the water cooled?
I went through a similar issue with my 2002 M3 that had to run 0-W60 that could ONLY be gotten through Castrol, at the dealer, for $15/gt.. This was required to keep my warranty...I can't remember specifically why, I just did it.

pat056

Thanks for the input from all. I'm not excatly sure which way to go, except on the filter socket (thanks Doug).

I do agree with you, bet. I'm glad I stuck with something easy and not really hard like what type of beer I should drink while changing my oil

Thanks for my welcome to Rennlist...knowledge is power!!!

bet

That's easy....a German Beer

J-RAD

You're arguing semantics. Call you local dealership and ask them. When they tell you 0-W40, fully synthetic, that is their recommendation (and they speak on behalf of Porsche). No one asked that you like it. And do you ever wonder why there is a Mobil 1 sticker under your hood?

Keep posting and I'll correct yours as well.

Actually, I won't...if you want to throw 15W-50 in your car, knock yourself out. I'll be sticking to the 0W-40.

J-RAD

According to the two dealerships and two Porsche performance shops I spoke with in my area, 0W-40 should be used in the 996, as well as with some other later models (ex. Boxster).

The 964 is a bit different. I don't know the recommendation there (ex., I don't recall what I used on my SC off hand but it was not 0W-40). In other words, other models, particularly earlier ones, may use different weights. According to my mechanic, the change is really the result of newer technology (specifically Vario-Cam) and the tighter tolerances of today's engines. He basically told me that using higher weight oils, particularly for the track, is really carry over thinking from an old school mindset that no longer applies (and as I mentioned, could be potentially harmful in today's engines).

1999Porsche911

Porsche's "approved oil" list covers ALL Porsches from 1984 on. So, anyone who blindly uses the argument that Porsche knows best when it comes to oils, MUST use only those oils on the approved list. Under no circumstances are you to use your own experience and knowledge to even consider another oil, such as a 15W50 that you have successfully used for 20 years and was often the factory fill. DO NOT follow your manual which states 15W50 in the early 996's and previous year cars. Also, NEVER change your oil more frequently than the 20,000 miles which Porsche suggest. You are fooling yourself to think that you are smarter than Porsche.

It doesn't matter how many leaks you have or how much oil you burn or how many engines you blowup....stick with Porsche's approved list and sleep well.

UCrazyKid

I will refrain from making any comment...